Cavities and Your Child

This may surprise you, but cavities can start before your baby even have visible teeth! Because your baby's primary teeth are already present below the gums when they are born, it is possible for decay to travel before they ascend. Your baby's Primary teeth start coming in around 6 months of age, if a baby has been drinking juice, being put to bed with juice, or other sugary foods, these teeth can come in with cavities. We want to help you create a healthy foundation for your child's adult teeth.

Do Baby Teeth Really Matter?

Yes! These baby, or primary teeth, do matter. If a primary tooth is lost too early, than the remaining primary teeth shift into the empty space and making it difficult for the other permanent teeth to find room when they come in. The result is crooked or crowded teeth. Dr. Moore would tell you that starting your baby off with the best oral care is the first step to lifelong healthy teeth for your child. Remember, both the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Association recommend that your child have their first visit no later than age two. At St. Helens Pediatric Dentistry, we are prepared and happy to work with your children from their very first tooth.

How Did my Child get a Cavity?

Children get cavities from bacteria, and our mouths are constantly exposed to to these bacteria filled germs. When these germs feed on sugar they produce an acid they will eat away at the tooth's enamel. The enamel is that hard outside layer of tooth that protects the pulp and root. If left untreated, cavities will continue to grow, developing into the dentin and eventually the pulp, which will cause your child pain.

How did my child get bacteria in their mouths?

Our mouths are constantly exposed to bacteria. Babies get germs from teething on objects, parents putting pacifiers in their mouths and transferring their germs to babies, unclean bottle nipples, and sharing utensils with your baby. As any parent knows, babies will try and put everything into their mouths. We can't entirely protect our babies from germs, but we can clean their mouths. Wipe your baby's gums with a soft, damp washcloth. Help keep their mouths clean. Don't intentionally offer your baby things that are unnecessary, such as bottles of juice. Try to keep their gums and teeth clean.

At St. Helens Pediatric Dentistry, we are happy to educate our parents on how to best care for their children's primary and permanent teeth. Contact William Moore, DMD, at our St. Helens, OR office. 503-438-7145